Nuggets may take Run and Gun offense to a new level (Erik Scheponik)
Anybody else think Denver may surapss the Washingtons, Phoenix’s, and healthy Milwaukees of the NBA as the fastest paced team in the NBA? With the addition of Blake and Iverson, and Carmelo coming back this team is pure offense. 7 of their top 8 are scoring options, while only two, Reggie Evans, and Marcus Camby, are what you would call a “good” defensive player. And Camby’s game, blocked shots and offensive glass, simply adds to the offense. If they go any deeper, they add the likes of Demarr Johnson and Leinas Kleiza, pure scoring threats not known for their defense. I believe the Nuggets who are averaging 105 ppg right now, will take that average even higher, and be the NBA team that commands the highest totals during the second half.
It may start tonight, as Seattle averages 101 pgg on 47% shooting on their home court. Without Reshard Lewis in the lineup, there really isn’t much of a need for Reggie Evans, so I expect a run and gun Denver game all night. Over 216 may be worth a look in the Nuggets/Sonics game.
Matty Baiungo
Erik,
Agree with your assessment of the new look Nuggets, but tonight they may have problems scoring points if their jumpers aren’t falling. Seattle has switched to playing a zone on defense which will force Melo and AI to shoot over them. If they are on, then no doubt they will light up the scoreboard. No free buckets for them like last night against the defenseless Grizz. Since the switch to zone, Seattle’s defense has allowed just 72 and 96 points in their last 2 games with Milwaukee and Cleveland hitting only 61 of their 166 combined shots for just 36.7%.
Erik Scheponik
Matty, wish I could have seen this earlier. I absolutley loved this total, as a zone will not slow this team down. Blake simply passes over it, and Iverson penetrates into it. You then have two of the most powerful finishing big men in the league with Nene and Camby. Also, they shoot within the first 10 seconds of the shot clock or on the break. Seattle would never have time to get set in that zone. Finally, I wouldn’t use Milwaukee without Redd, Villanueva, and Williams, and Cleveland on the run (they are putrid on the road offensively) as an arguement.
Matty Baiungo
Erik,
Nice call with the over. I did not like the under at all. Instead I was just looking at it from a different perspective. My point was more along the lines that (no sceret here) the current NBA players can’t hit jumpers on a consistant basis, and when playing a zone that’s what needs to be done. I did say that if Melo and AI hit their shots (19-45 for 42%) that they would light up the scoreboard. Seattle is in no way, shape, or form a good defensive team, but playing zone paid huge dividends for them in their previous two games. You’re probably right that it was more of playing two teams without their full complement. Take out JR Smith hitting six 3’s (avgs just 2.9 per game and 16.6 ppg) and the Nuggets getting 25 points from the free throw line and your looking at a lower scoring game. But that’s what happened so no real argument there. The fact that Denver and Seattle combined for 12 points (needing 11 to get over the total) in the last 1:05 of the game when the total was still in doubt tells me that the final score was not a good measure that the over was an easy win.
Erik Scheponik
Yeah, but I wouldn’t call 15 in the last 1:30 (game went over with 1:30 left) of any somewhat close NBA game out of the ordinary either. Good stuff, though, and I agree with some of what you said.
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